Different Types of Fuel

Fuel is used to power anything, from cars to airplanes to toy motor boats. It is the lifeblood of our transportation system. As our technology advances, society is able to use several natural and man-made sources to power our vehicles. This article will explore the different types of fuel and their properties.

Petroleum

Petroleum is still the number one fuel source used to power industrial nations. Petroleum is also known as crude oil. It is found in large reservoirs throughout the Earth. Petrol is usually taken to a refinery that turns it into usable forms, such as gasoline. It is usually bought in barrel units. Petroleum prices rose from less than $20 a barrel in 1996 to more than $150 by June 2008.

Natural Gas

Natural gas refers to methane-based gas found in coal beds. It can also be found in landfills, bogs and marshes because of special organisms called methanogens. Before being used as a fuel, natural gas must go through extensive processing to remove all of the other associated chemicals until only the methane is left.

Hydrogen Fuel

There are chemical reactions that can also produce energy that can be used as fuel. Hydrogen fuel is one example. Oxygen and hydrogen are combined in a proton exchange fuel cell. When the two are chemically combined, they can produce electricity that is used as fuel, creating water and vapors as a byproduct.

Straight Vegetable Oil

A fast food restaurant leftover, straight vegetable oil (SVO) can also act as a fuel. Special fuel tanks reduce its high viscosity to make it flow better. This fuel cannot be run through standard engines. They must be converted to handle filtered vegetable oil. This includes modifying engines to run at 150 degrees F and 120 degree fuel temperatures.

Ethanol

Ethanol is a naturally occurring gas that is usually found in small parts with other natural gases. However, ethanol can also be manually produced and used as fuel. Ethanol production includes the fermentation of corn stalks or sugar cane. Although ethanol burns cleaner than traditional gasoline, costs are equivalent to gasoline and fuel efficiency is more than a third less efficient.

Resources

• Government resource on energy sources